When I first began camping in the wilderness, I was ill-prepared, and certainly could have come across any variety of situations that could have befell me. I had no lantern or flashlight, only a lighter and an iPhone. Sure, the phone’s flashlight setting can be useful, but when you’re out in the middle of nowhere, and it’s pitch-black out, and you’re hearing sounds that remind you of a bear or some great beastly sasquatch, you will wish you had been better prepared. Truth be told, believing in a squatch is madness, and obviously I survived. But now that I’m a more seasoned and experienced traveler, my camp packing list has evolved toward obscene, but I am better prepared. Which is most important!

There are all sorts of light gear for camping and wilderness affairs, and I had tried perhaps the entire gamut before I was able completely satisfied with my choices. I tried the cheap-o 3-inch tall LED lanterns. They are fine for hanging up inside a small tent, but if you’re hoping to see anything around you in the night, you will be sad to find it basically worthless. I tried a larger model, and another, one that required a back and bank-breaking amount of D-batteries, and I’ve used flashlights and headlamps until I discovered the perfect light.

My favorite camp light and a recent addition to my packing list is the HP550 flashlight by Coast. The HP550 is essentially a flashlight on steroids. Not only is it heavy duty enough to become a weapon if I ever need one, it is also wicked powerful, intensely bright and has a spotlight. You read that right… A freaking spotlight! AND it is an LED, and requires no bulbs. Having a spotlight is a huge feature, especially for wilderness travelers, because often is a bear is going to snoop around your camp, it will be at night, but typically only if they smell something tasty, like food or perfumed items.

The Coast HP550 is not meant for backpackers in mind, as size and space were not factors when they designed this beast of a flashlight, but for everyone else, it may be the perfect lighting solution for most campers and trekkers alike. The design is sleek and the functionality is high-end.

Now, to be clear, a flashlight isn’t my only light source when I camp and venture far from civilization, but it is my favorite and my ultimate go-to. When I camp now-a-days, I always have a high-powered lantern, headlamp, phone, along with the HP550 flashlight.

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